BuCor chief praises First Lady’s legal aid, prison reform backing
OFFICIALS from the Philippine National Police and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairperson and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (right) lead the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new four-story PNP office building at Camp BGen Rafael T. Crame in Quezon City on Wednesday.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Philippine National Police
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gregorio Catapang Jr. expressed gratitude to First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos following a historic visit to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa, marking the first time a Philippine First Lady has toured the facility to support inmates.
Catapang said the event marked the first time in BuCor’s history that a sitting First Lady visited the national penitentiary to engage with persons deprived of liberty.
He added that the First Lady’s personal involvement in programs promoting human dignity, legal assistance, healthcare and rehabilitation underscored the administration’s commitment to humane correctional services and access to justice.
“The First Lady’s visit reminds us that behind every prison wall are individuals who, despite their past mistakes, remain deserving of dignity, compassion and opportunities for meaningful transformation,” Catapang said.
The BuCor chief added that the visit was particularly significant because the First Lady was accompanied by more than 200 volunteer lawyers from the Ateneo Utopia Fraternity, Women of Aleitheia Sorority, National Bureau of Investigation, National Telecommunications Commission, Integrated Bar of the Philippines and PCL Law.
The volunteer attorneys provided free legal services to inmates, including case reviews and legal documentation assistance.
Centered on the theme “Kulay, Kalinga, Katarungan at Kalayaan,” the initiative brought together government agencies, legal practitioners, medical professionals, private organizations, and volunteers to advance inmate welfare, rehabilitation and reintegration.
Catapang explained that each word in the theme represents a core component of BuCor’s mission, with “Kulay” symbolizing personal transformation, “Kalinga” reflecting humane treatment and healthcare, “Katarungan” stressing access to legal rights, and “Kalayaan” representing the goal of returning to society as productive citizens.
“Imprisonment should not mean the end of hope,” Catapang said, emphasizing that BuCor’s mandate extends beyond custody to encompass education, livelihood training, and rehabilitation.
“Successful correctional management is not measured only by the number of individuals we confine, but also by the number we successfully prepare for freedom,” he added.